Ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism



Nov. 13, 1934. E. c. HARTLEY INK RIBBON FEEDING AND REvERsING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 Q l "00 w m 1,; I l G3 f N N 1| N w f" l N Q En l KN o L Nov. 13, 1934. E,.c, HAR-(LEY 1,980,723

INK RIBBON FEEDING AND REVERSING MECHANISM fil #giri-071.' M (Q www j@ Patented Nov. 13, 1934 l 1,980,723 nur amnoN rEEDmG AND navaasmc MEcnmsM Emmett C. Hartley, Oak Path-Ill., assignor to Addressograph Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 15, 1930, Serial No. 502,399

l Claims.

This invention relates to ink ribbon feeding and reversing devices for printing machines and the like and the salient object of the invention is to provide a novel device embodying a posi- 5 tively operating reversing mechanism.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel compact device that may be expeditiously mounted on the frame of the machine; to alternately operate the ribbon storing devices to reverse the direction of movement of the ribbon whereby it may be wound on one device while unwinding from the other; to reverse the direction of ribbon movement in accordance with the amount of ribbon stored on l5 one of the devices by accurately adjustable detectors; and to reverse the direction of ribbon movement by a member operable from the member moving said ribbon.

In the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a view looking in at the right side of Fig. 1;

26 Fig. 3 is a view looking in the same direction as Fig. 1 in which certain parts have been broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 on Fig. 3, wherein the reversing mechanism is shown in alternate operating positions.

In the selected embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings 5 indicates the frame, on which my improved mechanism is mounted, having a pad at one end thereof including a rabbeted groove in which a rail 6 of the printing machine may be disposed and secured by bolts 7 or the like. On the frame below the rail 6 are bosses Band 9 and shafts 10 and 11 journaled therein, respectively, on which ribbon receiving spools 12 and 13 are mounted and held against endwise displacement. The ribbon R. is stored on both the spools 12 and 13 for winding on one while unwinding from the other. A bight formed in the ribbon is directed about suitable guides and over a printing device or the like in the manner well understood in the art. On the frame is a boss 14 on which a bell crank lever 15 is pivotally mounted at 16. On the arm 17 of the bell crank lever is a roller 18 engaged by a cam 19 in and operated by the machine and which imparts a reciprocatory movement to the bell crank lever. At the free end of the arm 19 of the bell crank lever is a pin 20 55 extended through an opening 21 in the frame.

One end of a spring 22 is connected to the pin and the other end is connected to a spring anchor 23 fixed on the frame. The spring acts to hold the pin in engagement with the lower edge o1' the opening to thereby position the arm 17 60 of the bell crank substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. An operating member generally indicated by 24 includes a stem 25 pivotally mounted on the arm 17 at 26 and a pin 27 is fixed in the stem adjacent the outer` end there- 05 of. A dog 28 is pivotally mounted on the arm 17 at 29 and one end thereof is bifurcated at 30 and embraces the pin 27. A spring 31 extends between a spring anchor 32 on the dog 28 and a spring anchor 33 on the operating member 24 70 and this arrangement provides an over-center device. On the stem 34 of the operating member is a pin 35 that is alternately engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheels 36 and 37. The ratchet wheel 36 is connected to the ribbon spool 76 13 while the ratchet wheel 37 is connected to the ribbon spool 12. When the device is disposed in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 and the cam 19' acts on the roller 18 to move the arm 17 inwardly to thereby stretch the spring 80 22, the operating member is moved inwardly and the pin 35 seated in the teeth of the ratchet Wheel 36 moves the same and the spool 13 an amount equal to the spacing of two of the ratchet teeth and as soon as the rise on the cam moves from engagement with the roller the stretched' spring will move the bell crank and therefore the pin 35 -will freely move over two of the teeth of the ratchet 36. The movement imparted to the ratchet 36 will cause the ribbon to wind on the 90 spool 13 as it is unwound from the spool 12. When a predetermined amount of ribbon has been unwound from the spool 12 the mechanism is reversed to wind on the spool 12 as it is unwound from the spool 13, and it is therefore necessary to move the pin 35 from engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 36 into the teeth of the ratchet 37 as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. This is known as reversing the device and is brought about in the following manner: On the operating member are wings 38 and 39 having cam surfaces 40 and 41, respectively. On the frame is a bracket 42 including a bearing 45 in which a shaft 46 is fixed. Arms 47 and 48 are piv- 105 otally mounted on the shaft and are held thereon between the bearing and the retaining screw 49. At the outer end of the arm 47 is a roller 50 and at the outer end of the arm 48 there is 4.1 l'QllQl 5l, The roller 50 is engageable with 110 lthe periphery of the ribbon wound on the spool 12 and the roller 51 is engageable with the periphery of the ribbon wound on the spool 18.

On the arm 47 is'a springanchor 52 and on the Aengagement with the ribbonwound on the spools.

On the arm 47 ls a pad 55 in which the spring anchor 52 is mounted and through which an adjusting screw 56 is extended that may be held in adjusted positions by the lock nut 57. On the arm 48 is a pad 58 through which the adjusting screw 59 is passed that may be retain d in adjusted positions by the lock nut 60. s best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the screws 8 and 59 are aligned and lare disposed in spaced relation. Extending inwardly from the bearing 45 is a boss 61 and pivotally mounted thereon is a trip latch 62 having spaced forwardly pro- Jecting fingers 63 and 64 thereon. The trip latch 62 extends at right angles to the operating mem.

ber 24 and the fingers 63 and 64 are movable into engagement with the vcam surfaces 41 and 40, respectively. Normally, however, these fingers are held from engagement with the cam surfaces. To attain this, an opening 65 is formed in the trip latch 62 along one edge of which is an inwardly extending projection 66 having tapered sides defining an apex 67. On a lug on the bracket' 42 an arm 68 is pivotally mounted at 69 that carries a pin 70 having flattened portions thereon deflning an apex 71. A spring 72 extends between spring anchors on the arm 68 and the frame 5. Under normal operation of the device the trip latch is inclined to be disposed in one of the alternate positions shown in Fig. 4. The trip latch is aligned with the screws 56 and 59 and when the device is operated as is illustrated, that is when the ribbon is being wound onto the spool 13 while unwinding from the spool 12, the arm 47 will move inwardly until the screw 56 engages the tail of the` trip latch 62 and pivots the same until the apex 67 seats on the apex 71. Additional movement imparted to the trip latch through the screw will cause the apex 67 to move past the apex 71 and the spring 72 will move the arm 68 and the trip latch will be pivoted to dispose the nger 64 in the path of the camk surface 40. This will occur when the cam surface 40 is disposed forwardly, due to an inward movement of the arm 17. When the ,arm 17 starts to move outwardlythe cam surface 40 will engage the linger 64, and due to the inclination of the cam surface the operating member will be pivoted upwardly. As the operating member pivots upwardly the tail 25 and the dog 28 will move into alignment and as soon as the tail 25 'has moved slightly past aligned relation with the dog 28, the spring 31 will be disposed on the opposite side of the pin 27 from which it has been disposed and the operating member will be snapped upwardly to engage the pin 35 with the teeth of the ratchet 37. The operating member will therefore act on the teeth of the ratchet 37, and movement will then be imparted to wind the ribbon on the spool 12 and unwind it from the spool 13, and this movement will continue until `the roller 51 and arm 48 have moved inwardly sufliciently to engage the screw 59 with the latch member 62 to position the finger 63 in the path of the cam surface 41. When the cam surface 41 engages the finger 63 the latch member will be pivoted in the opposite direction to reengage the pin 35 with the teeth of the ratchet 36.

In order to prevent undesired movementof -the spools 12 and 13 tension is applied to the` shafts 10 and 11. As best shown in Fig. 1. a tapped opening 73 is formed in the bracket 42 and extending from the inner end of this tapped opening` 73 into the bearing for the shaft 11 there is a drilled opening 74. At the inner end of the drilled opening is a lplug 75 which may be formed from fibrous material or the like and which has a rounded portion engaging a bushing seated on a hardened bushing fixed on the shaft. Arranged'in the drilled opening behind the plug isa spring 76 retained in position by a screw 77 mounted in the tapped opening 73. By adjusting the position of the screw the tension of the spring may be regulated to thereby vary the friction applied to the shaft 11 and thus proper tension may be applied to this shaft and to the spool 13 to prevent retroactive movement of the spool. An arrangement similar toqthis is associated with the shaft, 10 for the same purpose.

Since the ratchet 37 is mounted above the ratchet 36 the pin 35 might fall from engagement therewith. To preventl this, a retaining pawl 78 is pivotally mounted on the frame at 79 and a spring 80 extends between a spring anchor on this pawl and a spring anchor on the frame and h olds the pawl in an upper position and therefore the pin 35 cannot disengage the ratchet 37 until it has moved beyond the outer en'd of the pawl 78, at which time the spring 31 will act to prevent disengagement 110 thereof.

It is manifest that the operating fingers of the trip latch are normally held out o f the path of movement of the operating member since the operating member is inclined in one direction and the trip latch is inclined in an opposite direction during normal operation. However, whenv a variation in the quantity of ribbon wound on one of the spools causes operation of the trip latch it will pivot to thereby position a finger inthe path of the cooperating of the cam surfaces on the operating member to thereby pivot the operating member and vthus cause the operating member to engage the driving ratchet for the spool from which the ribbon has been unwound. It is manifest that the detecting portions comprising the arms 47 and 48 and the rollers 50 and 51 are arranged in opposition to each other and are urged into engagement with the ribbon wound on the spools by the same spring. By providing 130 the arrangement consisting of the apices 67 and 71 and the arm 68, I produce a reversing arrangement which is very sensitive and therefore by properly positioning the screws 56 and 59 accurate operation may be attained.

Moreover, the driving stroke of the operating member is brought about by the positive operation of a cam and the non-driving stroke is induced by spring action. Clearly, a more positively operating device *is thus provided than would be possible if spring action were relied on to bring about the driving movement of the operating member. Moreover. by arranging the trip latch at right angles to the operating member I am enabled to positively move the trip latch rather than rely on spring action to induce this movement and therefore the reversing device is positively operated.

Since the screws engaging the trip latch are adjustable, minute and accurate setting thereof may be attai'ned and therefore the operating time of the trip latch may be accurately determined.

While I have illustrated and described a selected embodiment of my invention is is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on a frame, an operating member for imparting a step-by-step movement to said spools, a shifting member including independent shifting portions, said operating member having independent portions thereon respectively adapted for cooperation with said shifting portions and normally disengaged therefrom in the movement of said operating member, and means for moving said shifting member into position whereat one of the shifting portions thereon is disposed to engage the cooperating of the independent portions on the operating member to disconnect said operating member from one of said spools and connect it with the other of said spools to effect reversal in the direction of movement of said spools.

2. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on a frame, an operating member for imparting a step-by-step movement to said spools, a shifting member including independent shifting portions, said operating member having independent portions thereon respectively adapted for cooperation with said shifting portions and normally disengaged therefrom in the movement of said operating member, means for moving said shifting member into position whereat one of the shifting portions thereon is disposed to engage the cooperating of the independent portions on the operating member to disconnect said operating member from one of the spools and connect it with the other of said spools to effect reversal in the direction of movement of said spools, and means for holding said shifting member in one or the other of the positions into which it is moved to dispose the shifting portions thereon for cooperation with the independent portions on the operating member.

3. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pair of ribbon lspools rotatably mounted on a frame, an operating member for; imparting a step-by-step movement to said spools, a shifting member including independent shifting portions, said operating member having independent portions thereon respectively adapted for cooperation with said shifting portions and normally disengaged therefrom in the movement of said operating member, means for moving said shifting member into position whereat one of the shifting portions thereon is disposed to engage the cooperating of the independent portions on the operating member to disconnect said operating member from one of the spools and connect it with the other of said spools to effect reversal in the direction of movement of said spools, and means for holding said shifting member in one or the other of the positions into which it is moved to dispose the shifting portions thereon for cooperation with the independent portions on the operating member and for quickly moving said shifting member into one or the other cf said positions and including an over-center device controlled by the amount of ribbon wound on one or the other of said spools.

4. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on a frame, ratchets respectively connected to said spools, a reciprocal operating member normally engaging one of saidratchets, a trip latch adapted for cooperation with said operating member and extended substantially at right angles to said operating member and nor- 4mally disengaged therefrom but engageable therewith to shift said operating member from engagement with one of said ratchets into engagement with the other of the ratchets, means for alternately positioning the trip latch in position to engage said operating member and including members engageable with the ribbon wound on said spools, common means for holding said members in engagement with said ribbon, and means for holding said trip latch in the alternate positions into which it is moved by the means determining the position thereof and functioning to retain said trip latch out of engagement with the operating member until said 'operating member is to be moved from engagement with one of said ratchets into engagement with the other of said ratchets.

5. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pair of ribbon spools each having a ratchet connected thereto, operating means including a pawl selectively engageable with said ratchets to rotate said ribbon spools, said pawl having cam surfaces thereon, a shifting member having portions thereon alternately engageable with said cam surfaces to move said pawl from engagement with one of said ratchets into engagement with the other of said ratchets, and means normally holding said shifting member in position to clear the portions thereon from' said cam surfaces to prevent said cam surfaces from engaging said portions during the major part of the operation of said operating means.

6. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pairof ribbon spools rotatably mounted on a frame, movement receiving means connected to said spools, an operating member engageable with either of said movement receiving means and having cam surfaces thereon, a shifting member having portions selectively engageable with said cam surfaces to move said operating member from engagement with one of said movement receiving means into engagement with the other of said movement receiving means, means normally holding said shifting member in a position to clear the portions thereon from said cam surfaces whereby said cam surfaces do not normally engage said 4 portions on the operating member in the movement of said opera ing member, and means engageable with the ri bon wound on said spools to move said shifting member so that said holding means retain said shifting member in a. position to engage one of the portions thereon with a cam surface on said operating member to move said operating member from engagement with one of said movement receiving means into engagement with the other, the holding means-retaining said shifting member in the last-named position until lmeans engageable with the ribbon impart movement thereto to position another of the portions thereon for cooperation with anothercam surface on said operating member.

7. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pair of ribbon spools each having a ratchetconnected thereto, operating 150 means including a pawl selectively engageable with said ratchets to rotate said ribbon spools,

said pawl having cam surfaces thereon, a shifting member for moving said pawls from engagement with one of said ratchets into engagement with the other of said ratchets and having fingers thereon adapted to be selectively positioned for cooperation with a selected one of said cam surfaces, means normally holding saidA fingers from engagement with said cam surfaces to prevent said cam surfaces from engaging said portions during the major part of the operation of said operating means, and means engageable with the ribbon wound on said spoolsffor 'moving said shifting member to position one or the other of said fingers for engagement with the cooperating cam isurface on said pawl to move said pawl from engagement with one of said ratchets into engagement with the other of said ratchets.

8. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on a frame, movement receiving means connected to said spools, an operating member engageable with either of said movement receiving means and having cam surfaces thereon, means for moving said operating member from engagement with one of said movement receiving means into engagement with the other of said movement receiving means and having nngers thereon engagg/ble with said cam surfaces, and an over-center device for normally holding said fingers from engagment with said cam surfaces and for quickly moving said fingers into engagement with said cam surfaces when said last-named means is moved.

9. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a frame, a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on the frame, ratchets connected to said spools, an operating member, means for operating said operating member, an over-center device for holding said operating member in engagement with one or the other of said ratchets, shifting means operable on and disposed at right angles to said operating member and normally disengaged therefrom, and means including an over-center device for positioning said shifting means in the path of movement of said operating member whereby the engagement of the operating member with said shifting member moves said operating member from engagement with one of said ratchets into engagement with the other of said ratchets, and means for positioning said shifting means in the path of movement of said operating member.

10. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a frame, a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on said frame one above the other, ratchets connected to said spools, an operating member, means for operating said operating member, an over-center device for holding said operating member in engagement with one or the other of said ratchets, shifting means disposed at ber isetmoved into cooperating relation with this ratch 1i. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a frame, a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on a frame, ratchets connected to said spools, an operating member, means for` operating vsaid operating member, an over-center device for holding said operating member in engagement with one or the other of said ratchets. said operating member having cam surfaces thereon, a trip latch disposed at right angles to said operating member and having i'ingers thereonalternatelyengageable with said cam surfaces, an over-center device for holding said i'ingers from engagement with said cam surfaces, andV means voperable from the ribbon wound on said spools for moving said trip latch to engage one or the other of said fingers with one of the cam surfaces on said operating member whereby said operating member will be moved from engagement with one of said ratchets into engagementwith the other of said ratchets.

12. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a frame, a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on said frame, movement receiving means connected to said spools, a driving member pivotally mounted on said frame, an operating member pivotally mounted on said driving member, an over-center device mounted on said driving member and adapted to hold said operating member in engagement with one or the other of said movement receiving means, said frame having an opening therein. a pin on said driving member extending through said opening, yieldable means connected to said pin and said frame and acting on said driving member to hold said driving member in a retracted position from which it may be moved to impart movement to the operating member to operate the moving means with which said operating member is engaged.

13. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a frame, a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on one side of said frame, movement receiving means connected to said spools, a bell crank mounted on the same side of said frame as said spools, an operating member pivotally mounted on the bell crank, said frame having an opening therein, a pin on the bell crank extended through said opening to the other side ofl said frame, yieldable means mounted on said other side ofsaid frame and connected to said pin and said frame and acting to hold the operating member in a retracted position whereby when movement is imparted to said bell crank against the action of said yieldable means said operating member imparts a driving movement to the movement receiving means with which it is engaged, and an overcenter device on said bell crank and holding said 'operating member in engagement with one or the other of said movement receiving means.

14. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mech'- anism comprising a frame, a pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on one side of said frame, movement receiving means connected to said spools, a bell crank mounted on the same side of said frame as said spools, an operating member pivotally mounted on the bell crank, said frame having an opening therein, a pin on the bell crank extended through said opening to the other side of said frame, yieldable means mounted on said other side of said frame and connected to said pin and said frame and acting to hold the operating member in a retracted po- 1,9zso`,'7fa3v sition whereby when movement is imparted toy said bell crank against the action of said yieldable means said operating member imparts a driving movement to the movement receiving means with which it is engaged, an over-center device on said bell crank and holding said operating member in engagement with one or the other of said movement receiving means and including a flat plate, and means extending at right angles to said fiat plate for operating said overcenter device to disengage it from one of said movement receiving means and engage it with the other ofsaid movement receiving means at a predetermined time in the cycle of operation of said bell crank.

15. An ink ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism comprising a frame, a, pair of ribbon spools rotatably mounted on one side of said frame, movement receiving means respectively connected to said spools, a bell crank mounted on the same side of said frame as said spools, an operating member pivotally mounted on said bell crank, said frame having an opening therein, a pin on said bell crank extending through said opening to the other side of said frame, yieldable means mounted on said other side of said frame and connected to said pin and frame and acting on said bell crank to hold the operating member in a retracted position whereby when movement is imparted to said bell crank against the action of said yieldable means said operating imember mparts a driving movement to the movement receiving means with which it is engaged, an over-center device mounted m the bell crank and holding said operating ember in engagement with one or the other of said movement receiving means, and means mounted on the same side of said frame as said spools and adapted to move said operating member from engagement with one of said movement receiving means into engagement with the other of said movement receiving means.

EMME'II C. HARTLEY. 

